Has anyone started planking? Can you see results or feel them it is one of my goals in the end. Thanks everyone surgery June 24th

Planking like the photo op kids were doing for fun or doing the plank exercise?

The plank is an excellent exercise for your core. It's easy, effective and requires no equipment. It can be done anywhere and even a few minutes a day is very beneficial to your body. Google "plank challenge" and you will find all sorts of plank building routines that will gradually ease you into a great plank routine.

I've been doing pilates (very good for the core) and my stomach is flat! I keep looking for muscles as I lose more weight - hoping to see some (not a lot). I have planked in the past and may add that to try to accelerate the efforts.

Yes I think it's a yoga thing but I really think if I plank it will help me greatly as I want my surgery to mean something as I'm sure everyone does but I've seen a lot who didn't care about getting more fit just wanted to get skinny to get more compliments.

I've been doing pilates (very good for the core) and my stomach is flat! I keep looking for muscles as I lose more weight - hoping to see some (not a lot). I have planked in the past and may add that to try to accelerate the efforts.

Never thought of Pilates I will look into that thank you.

When I started I could only do it for a few seconds... Now a few minutes.

A nice NSV for me.

** the "plank" I'm speaking of is most yogas' "hover" (down on elbows, not up on hands)... Just realized we were talking yoga, sorry.

When I started I could only do it for a few seconds... Now a few minutes.

A nice NSV for me.

It would be for me too... You go girl!!!!

** the "plank" I'm speaking of is most yogas' "hover" (down on elbows, not up on hands)... Just realized we were talking yoga, sorry.

I'm speaking of the elbows as well def. not hands lol I didn't know there was a difference thank you for telling me.

A great planking exercise for your arms, shoulders and core is to "walk" your plank, one arm at a time from elbow and then up to arm, up to the other arm, back down to the elbow and then back to the other elbow. This is difficult, so go slow, and only expect to be able to do it once or twice at first. I teach this in my advanced kickboxing class.

My trainer has me doing planks -- 2-3 times for 30 seconds each. I'm on the elbows and I'm currently doing them with the upper body on a bench. It's harder to do them on the floor, so if that's too hard, try doing them on a bench first and work your way down to the floor.

A great planking exercise for your arms, shoulders and core is to "walk" your plank, one arm at a time from elbow and then up to arm, up to the other arm, back down to the elbow and then back to the other elbow. This is difficult, so go slow, and only expect to be able to do it once or twice at first. I teach this in my advanced kickboxing class.

I will thank you.... Kick boxing sounds so fun.

My trainer has me doing planks -- 2-3 times for 30 seconds each. I'm on the elbows and I'm currently doing them with the upper body on a bench. It's harder to do them on the floor, so if that's too hard, try doing them on a bench first and work your way down to the floor.

Thank you I will try that I really want a strong core

A great planking exercise for your arms, shoulders and core is to "walk" your plank, one arm at a time from elbow and then up to arm, up to the other arm, back down to the elbow and then back to the other elbow. This is difficult, so go slow, and only expect to be able to do it once or twice at first. I teach this in my advanced kickboxing class.

Yup, those walking planks are indeed fun.

Another one I learned just a few days ago is called the body rock. Get in plank position and without losing the straight line, rock as far forward as you can on your toes and then as far back as you can on your toes. Do this for one minute. Try and do these 5 x.

Another good one I also picked up at the same time is what I think is called a scissor kick plank. Start in a plank position and hold for 1 min. After 1 min, lift your right foot slightly off the ground and scissor it out as far as you can go to the right, keeping shoulders, back, butt and heel in a straight line. Strong core. Now scissor it back to middle. That is one rep. Do the right side for 5 x without loosing the straight line and not dropping your foot. Without stopping, now do the left foot for 5 reps. Do 5 sets of this sequence (plank hold 1 min, scissor right 5x, scissor left 5x) without stopping.

Another great one that REALLY makes me "unpopular" is having my kickboxers lay on their backs, legs straight out in front of them about 12 inches off the floor and then have them "write" their ABCs with their toes, never dropping their legs or bending their knees.

That's a great one.

Yes, my vet does it also. He actually released a Christmas photo one year planking on the exam table. ROFL.